A Piano: The Collection

Box set breakdown

The compilation's first disc includes an extended version of Amos's 1992 debut, Little Earthquakes. The original record has not only a different song sequence and alternate mixes but it features its four original B-sides ("Upside Down" and "Sweet Dreams," and alternate mixes of "Flying Dutchman" and "Take to the Sky") as well as the previously unreleased, unedited single remix version of "Crucify".

Spotlighting music recorded between 1994 and 1996, the second disc includes songs from Under the Pink and Boys for Pele. The 18 tracks blend original and remixed versions of albums cuts with the B-side "Honey" and "Professional Widow" performed live. Also included is "Take Me With You" (music recorded in 1990, with lyrics/vocals finished in 2006).

The third disc also includes songs associated with Boys for Pele plus 1999’s To Venus and Back and Tales of a Librarian: A Tori Amos Collection. The 15 songs feature original and remixed versions of album tracks as well as "Hey Jupiter" (Dakota Version) and "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin’ Mix). Also featured is "Walk to Dublin (Sucker Reprise)" (recorded in 1995 during the Boys for Pele sessions).

From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998), Scarlet's Walk (2002) and The Beekeeper (2005) are the focus of the fourth disc, which contains 15 songs including original and remixed versions of tracks from the albums. Also featured is the unheard intro for "Marys of the Sea" (from The Beekeeper) as well as four previously unreleased songs: "Not David Bowie" (recorded in 2004 for The Beekeeper), "Ode to My Clothes" (recorded in 2001 in between takes for Strange Little Girls), "Dolphin Song" (recorded in 2003 apparently during sessions for Tales of a Librarian), and the much-mythologized "Zero Point" (recorded in 1999 for To Venus and Back), which Amos had mentioned in interviews as well as the liner notes to 1999's To Venus and Back. In the A Piano liner notes, Amos writes:

The final disc features 22 tracks spotlighting Amos's list of renowned B-sides and includes the exclusive digital release "Merman" from 1999 ("Merman" would later appear on No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees). It also includes popular B-sides such as "Cooling," "Purple People," "Bachelorette," and "Here. In My Head" and the unreleased "Peeping Tommi" (recorded in 1993 for Under the Pink). Amos also invites listeners into her artistic process with a medley of demos for the songs "Fire-Eater’s Wife / Beauty Queen", "Playboy Mommy" and "a sorta fairytale". Amos explains in the liner notes:

Disc A (440 Hz)

All tracks written by Amos.

Disc B (493.88 Hz)

All tracks written by Amos.

Disc C (523.25 Hz)

All tracks written by Amos.

Disc D (587.33 Hz)

All tracks written by Amos.

Disc E (659.26 Hz)

All tracks written by Amos, except tracks 15 & 21 (traditional).

Errors in the printed track listing

The track listing incorrectly labels "Purple People" as being the b-side version from the Spark single, however the version featured here is the live soundcheck version from To Venus and Back.

Likewise, the version of "Take to the Sky" featured here is a different mix from the one released as a b-side on the Winter e.p. The alternate mix on this compilation is noticeably different in that it does not have backing vocals on the second chorus or during the song's outro.